Doc Anderson gets lunch with Gov. Perry's special guest after State of the State

By Michael W. Shapiro

After Gov. Rick Perry's State of the State address, State Rep. Charles "Doc" Anderson picked up the lunch tab for Perry's special guest at the event, Tiffany Hartley, whose husband was allegedly murdered by Mexican pirates while he and Hartley rode Jet Skis on Falcon Lake in the fall.

Hartley was on hand for the address at the invitation of Perry, and in interviews after his speech including one with the Tribune-Herald she argued the federal government hasn't devoted enough resources to protect the Mexico-U.S. border upon which Falcon Lake lies.

Anderson — a Waco veterinarian, who stressed enhanced border security and an Arizona-style immigration law during his re-election campaign — jumped at the chance to invite Hartley to lunch with him, his wife, Sandie, and his Austin staffers.

"She was right in front of my desk here and I told her we'll continue to work on these issues," said Anderson in a phone interview, referring to stepped up policing of the border.

"Then I said I hope you enjoy your stay, and asked her what her plans were immediately."

When Hartley responded that she was free, Anderson said he asked, "Do you mind if the staff and I buy you lunch?"

They went to the Roaring Fork, an upscale restaurant near the Capitol that serves American Western cuisine.

"It was very inspiring to listen to her story," said Anderson, applauding Hartley, who lives near Greeley, Colo., for "not withdrawing and for putting a face on the spill-over violence."

Hartley's story drew heavy media attention in the fall and some raised eyebrows when Mexican law enforcement officials questioned her version of events.

Anderson handed his office phone to Hartley who recalled talking at lunch about "what's going on on the border and what's not happening at the border."

She said the trip to the Capitol was about pressing the point that the federal government hasn't done enough to combat border violence. The point has been echoed by Republican politicians across the country, perhaps none as loudly as Perry.

Officials in the White House and at the Department of Homeland Security have responded by pointing to steps taken to boost border security since President Obama took office.

The DHS website notes the administration has increased the size of the Border Patrol since 2008 (There are now more than 20,000 agents on the border compared to 10,000 in 2004). It also points out that for the first time DHS is screening of all rail shipments from the U.S. to Mexico for weapons, drugs and cash, and the agency has beefed up surveillance on the border using drone aircraft.

The website also points out Obama deployed National Guard troops to the border to aid in operations.

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